International Order of the Blue Gavel - District 8

2017 Summer Regional Meeting June 2 & 3, 2017

Hosted by

Isles Yacht Club 1780 West Marion Ave Punta Gorda,Fl 33950Phone: 941-639-7551Primary contact:Event Chair: P/C Jim Nuzzo586-530-5097 jcnuzzo@comcast.net

Secondary Contact:P/C Bob Peterson 941-626-9134 rpeterson@surfree.com

Events Schedule – RSVP FORM REQUIRED By May 20, 2017

Friday June 2, 20174:00pm-6:00pm Check-in. Pick up welcome package. 6:00pm-7:00pm Social/Cocktails. Cash Bar. 7:00pm-9:00pm Dinner - A la carte or Buffet Dining in Main Dining Room. Friday Attire - Casual or Sports Attire - Collared shirts with slacks or shorts for Men.

Saturday June 3, 2017 9:30am-10:30am Check-in. Pick up welcome package.10:30am-12:30am IOBG District 8 Meeting. Summer Uniform-white pants,shoes,belt,shirts w/shoulderboards.10:30am-11:30am Business Meeting.11:30am-12:30pm Guest Speaker Capt Ralph Allen - See Bio page.12:30pm - 1:30pm A la carte Lunch After Lunch and for those not attending the morning meeting please consider visiting some of the local attractions listed on the "Things to do in Punta Gorda" page.6:00pm-6:45pm Hors d'Oeuvres/Cocktails in Harbor room. Winter Uniform - Navy Jacket, white pants, white shirt, white shoes, white socks, Club or IOBG tie and Club badge.6:45pm-7:15pm Retreat Ceremony:IYC IOBG Chapter on Pool/Patio Deck, Bring you cover (hat).7:15pm-9:00pm Dinner Banquet. Choice of 6oz Filet Mignon or Grilled Halibut. Arugala/Spinach Salad, Duchess Potatoes, Vegtable Medley and Bananas Foster for desert. $61.00 includes tax & gratuity.

Sunday June 4, 2017 9:30am-1:00pm Breakfast Buffet in Main Dining Room. Eggs, Omelettes, Pancakes, Waffles to order. Juices, Fruits, and Pastry table, much more. Casual or Sports Attire. $17.72 includes tax & gratuity.

HOTELS AND ACCOMMODATIONSDowntown Punta Gorda - 2.0 miles to IYC

OTHER HOTELS IN DOWNTOWN PUNTA GORDA - STANDARD RATES APPLY

THE WYVERN HOTEL - Across the street for the Four Points 101 East Retta EsplanadePunta Gorda, FL 33950Phone: (941) 639-7700Website: thewyvernhotel.com

PG Waterfront Hotel and Suites - 3 blocks from Four Points 300 W. Retta EsplanadePunta Gorda, FL 33950Phone: 941-639-1165Website: www.pgwaterfront.com

FOUR POINTS BY SHERATON PUNTA GORDA HARBORSIDE 33 Tamiami TrailPunta Gorda, FL, 33950Phone: 941-637-6770A special IOBG rate has been arranged for at the Sheraton Four Points in downtown Punta Gorda. Call the hotel directly at 941-637-6770 and ask for the Blue Gavel block to receive the discount of $129 per night for June 2nd and 3rd, 2017.

Budget Inn-Punta Gorda - 1 Mile South of downtown 1520 Tamiami TrailPunta Gorda, FL 33950(941) 639-8000Website: budgetpuntagorda.com

International Order of the Blue Gavel - District 8 Summer Regional Meeting – June 2 & 3 , 2017

RSVP by May 20th

Name:________________________________ Spouse/Guest___________________

Address: _____________________________________________________________

Preferred Phone __________________

Home Yacht Club: _____________________ If an FCYC Club - Account # ________

Office Held:___________________________________________________________

Friday al a Carte Dinner: # Reservations:______Saturday al a Carte Lunch: # Reservations:______Saturday Dinner Banquet: # Reservations:______$61.00 inclusive = ________ Please indicate your main entree choice: Filet Mignon____ Halibut:____Sunday Breakfast Buffet: # Reservations:______$17.72 inclusive = ________

TOTAL = ________

Dockage: Please see the attached information for those visiting by boat

Cancellations must be received 48 hours in advance.

Pre-payment not requested or required but reservations are.Payment: Guests attending from FCYC Clubs can choose to charge to their accounts or pay by check prior to their departure. Credit Cards not accepted. Guests attending from all other Clubs are requested to pay by check prior to departure. Credit Cards not accepted.Please make all checks payable to Isles Yacht Club or simply IYC.

P/C Jim Nuzzo12 Ocean Drive Punta Gorda,FLH-941-575-6981C-586-530-5097

jcnuzzo@comcast.net

email (optional) __________________

PLEASE COMPLETE FOR ARRIVALS BY WATER AND IYC MARINA RESERVATIONS:DESIRED DATES: ___________________________ BOAT LENGTH:_____________________________ BOAT WIDTH:______________________________ DRAFT:___________________________________BOAT NAME:______________________________

Please Contact Isles the Yacht Club Dockmasters Office for additional informationHead Dockmaster - Jim Merritt 941-639-2652 (Office)941-769-0842 (Cell) VHF Channel 16 monitored from 8:00am to 4:00pm daily. Open 7 days a week. Gas - Diesel - Pump Out - Wi-Fi - 30/50 amp - Laundry - Showers available.

VESSEL ARRIVALS: Using Chart #11426, proceed east from Boca Grande Pass until abeam of Marker 5, just off Cape Haze. Turn to port and head north. Pass Marker 1, and then head 027 degrees to Marker 2, then 060 degrees to Marker 3, head 140 degrees to the channel entrance marked by day marker 1 and red flasher 2. Enter canal and make first port turn. Continue to IYC.

BICYCLES AVAILABLE: Bikes, with baskets, locks, and helmets are available free of charge to visitors by boat or car. Bikes can be signed out through the Dockmaster’s Office from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm daily.

FCYC CLUB AFFILIATION: ________________________ACYC CLUB AFFILIATION________________________

THINGS TO DO IN PUNTA GORDAThe places of interest listed below will have brochures in your welcome package. Most of your choices can take one to two hours and offer a close by entertaining activity when you have free time over the weekend.

FISHERMEN'S VILLAGE - Built out into Charlotte Harbor- Close to IYC - SHOPS - Restaurants - Marina - Boutiques - Gifts - Ice Cream -Confectionary- Military Heritage Museum - Dog and Pet Lovers check out "Salty Dogs". More Shops.

Peace River Wildlife Center - Located at Ponce Park just 2.0 miles down the street from IYC. Dedicated to the care, preservation, and protection of Charlotte County's native wildlife. Treats 2,000 injured wildlife, many of which are Eagles, Pelicans, Egrets, Herons, Hawks, Songbirds and Owls. No Gators or snakes. Great volunteer organization our community is proud to have and support.

Punta Gorda Historic Mural Society - 28 Murals throughout downtown Punta Gorda help you explore Punta Gorda's historic past by car, foot or bike. Your guide map in your welcome package is all you need.

Visual Arts Center - Across the Street from Fisherman's Village. Gallery and Gift Shop in works of glass, jewlery,painting pottery,metal,wood, and tables. May 20 - June 15, 2017 Water, Water, Everywhere. Has anything and everything to do with water: boating, shells, beaches and more. This exhibit is open to all media.

1/2 Scale Replica Vietnam Memorial Wall - Just dedicated in November - Short walk from the Four Points. With great respect our community is ulimately grateful and honored to call home to this 1/2 scale replica of the National Memorial in Washington.

CONTINUED

THINGS TO DO IN PUNTA GORDA - CONTINUED

Muscle Car City Museum: 4 miles from downtown South on Tamiami trail/Rte#41.One of the Largest GM Muscle Car Collections in the Nation.99,000 sq. ft. of Classic Cars Spanning 80 years of Makes and Models.Museum is Open: Tuesday - Sunday 9am to 5pm1950's-60's themed Diner for burgers and shakes.Museum Entry: Adult Day Pass $12.50 + Tax

History Park & Sunday Farmers Market: Between downtown and IYC Operated by the Punta Gorda Historical Society, this is a year-round open air market offering produce, meat, fish and other food items, plus many other vendors. Location: Punta Gorda History Park at 501 Shreve Street between Virginia Avenue and Henry Street. Sundays, 9am - 2pm year-round

Downtown Saturday Farmers Market: Short walk from all the downtown hotels. Voted the best small market in Florida and 15th in the USA. Large number of vendors offering fruits and vegetables, pickles, jams and jellies, orange juice, German bakery, fresh homemade pasta, kitchenware, cupcakes,beef and fresh seafood, fresh citrus, jewelry, candles and soaps, dip mixes, Florida arts and crafts, cheese, baguettes and olives, homemade pies, orchids, organic produce, personalized pens, kettle corn, coffee beans and drinks, native and exotic plants, natural facial products and all natural smoothies. Live entertainment.

Capt. Ralph Allen's King Fisher Fleet was founded in the early 1980s by Capt. Ralph’s parents, Capt. Bob and Helen Allen. In 1985, Capt. Ralph acquired his Captain’s license and began working full-time for the family business.

From home port of Fishermen’s Village, King Fisher Fleet has grown into a Southwest Florida institution over the last 30 years. The marine operation offers multiple sightseeing cruises and fishing charters on Charlotte Harbor, Gulf of Mexico and Peace River which are enjoyed by thousands of guests every month. King Fisher Fleet has received numerous awards and accolades over the years including being voted “Best Charter Boats In Charlotte County” in the Charlotte Sun-Herald’s readers’ poll every year since the poll’s inception in 1996 and King Fisher Fleet’s fishing charters have been awarded four IGFA world records and the subject of many newspaper and magazine articles and numerous television shows.

King Fisher Fleet supports dozens of Southwest Florida charities and non-profits in their fundraising effort and Capt. Ralph takes pride in his own personal community service. He’s a member of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council’s reef fish advisory panel, the Charlotte County Marine Advisory Committee, the Florida Sea Grant Charlotte Harbor advisory committee, is on the Board of Directors of the Charlotte Harbor Reef Association, is on the Board of the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center and is a Director Emeritus of the Charlotte County chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association. He served on the Charlotte County Tourist Development Council from 2001 to 2014 and in 2013, was awarded the prestigious Pacesetter award by the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce in 2013.

Capt. Ralph enjoys sharing his experiences on the waters of Southwest Florida through his writing. He has written an outdoor column for the Charlotte Sun-Herald for over 30 years, and is the Southwest regional field editor of Florida Sportsman Magazine. He’s received numerous writing and photography awards from the Florida Outdoor Writer’s Association, of which he is an active member and a past-president. He is author of the University of Florida book “A Tackle Box Guide to Fishes of Southwest Florida”.

When asked to summarize his career, Capt. Ralph says: “Well, we’ve kept our business afloat for more than three decades, including good times and bad. We’ve weathered hurricanes, recessions, real estate bubbles, and stock market crashes and we keep on going. I’ve got to be one of the luckiest people I know because I get to work with my family (three generations currently work the business, including Capt. Ralph’s mom Helen and his two daughters Elissa and Jan) and because I get to look at Charlotte Harbor every single day.”

About Guest SpeakerCaptain Ralph Allen

WriterPhotographer

Amateur HistorianWorld Class FishermanCharter Fleet Operator